Facelift for monument, not history

A high-profile symbol of Buncombe County's past is in need of a serious facelift, and a nonprofit organization is working to raise the funds required to improve the condition of the deteriorating downtown Asheville icon. The symbol in question is the Vance Monument, that familiar obelisk of granite rising 65 feet above Pack Square in the heart of the Buncombe County seat. Built in 1897-98, the monument was erected in memory of Zebulon Baird Vance, a Buncombe County native who would go on to hold numerous offices, including the governorship of North Carolina during the Civil War.

Widely regarded as one of the most popular politicians in the state's history, Vance also served as county solicitor and in the N.C. House of Commons, U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. Historians say that Vance was known more of as "man of the people" than most officeholders, with a down-to-earth oratorical style, great rhetorical skills and an ability to get along with people from all walks of life. "You always have those that were seen as popular among the gentry, but few ever had the support among the people he had," says Chris Roberts, who is spearheading the drive to renovate the monument.

Shortly after Vance's death in 1894, efforts got under way to create a monument in the city's main square to memorialize him. A $2,000 contribution from timber baron George Pack (whose name adorns Pack Square) provided the majority of funds needed for the project. With the cornerstone laid in December 1897, the monument was completed the following year.

Over the ensuing 115 years, the monument has stood silent witness to historical events ranging from a speech by Teddy Roosevelt to ceremonies welcoming troops home from World War I. It has seen the growth of Asheville's Bele Chere from a small gathering of local merchants and artists to the largest street festival in the Southeast. And demonstrators espousing views on topics as varied as gay rights, ending wars, promoting family values and advocating for the right of women to walk around topless have held rallies in the shadow of the obelisk.

Those years have not been kind to the monument. Mortar in joints between its granite blocks has deteriorated, allowing water to infiltrate. The monument is stained by mineral deposits and rust, and its plaque is loose and streaked with stains. A 2008 report by Conservation Solutions recommends the monument be cleaned, all mortar and caulk replaced, the bolts attaching the plaque to the structure replaced, and the iron fence surrounding it stripped and repainted. The estimated cost of repairs is $81,000.

Although there is no imminent danger of the monument crumbling to the ground, it is in "fair to poor" condition, and repairs should be given a high priority, says Debbie Ivestor, assistant director of the city parks department. "Structurally, the monument is sound," Ivestor says. "However, it's been standing there for a long, long time without any treatment."

Roberts and the Society for the Historical Preservation of the 26th North Carolina, which has raised money for several preservation efforts, have taken up restoration of the monument as a cause. Although the monument is part of Asheville's public art collection, the $81,000 required to renovate it represents more than twice the annual budget for maintenance of all city artworks. Without private support, it is unlikely the renovation could ever happen. And it needs to happen.

However, we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge that in spite of Zeb Vance's legacy as a popular politician of the people, that legacy did not include stellar service to all of the people. It's impossible to review his life without recognition of America's "original sin," slavery. Vance's career, like the careers of many leaders during that period, is tinged with the stains of racism and support of slavery. As Roberts points out, Vance was a man of his time. "Like all figures in history, there's going to be aspects of their past and personalities that we embrace in the modern world, and there's always going to be aspects that we don't," he says. In the case of Vance, it is important to recognize those imperfections - and learn from them - even as we work to remove the stains of time and other imperfections from the monument that has been built in his honor.

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Facelift for monument, not history

A high-profile symbol of Buncombe County's past is in need of a serious facelift, and a nonprofit organization is working to raise the funds required to improve the condition of the deteriorating